The relationship between health and quitting work among electronic industry female workers in Tijuana.

Objective. To examine the health, labor and social factors which contribute to quitting work in two transnational electronic parts factories in Tijuan a, Mexico. Material and methods. A cohort study of 725 women employed eithe r at a Japanese or an American electronic parts factory in Tijuana was perf ormed between January 1992 and March 1994. The sample was stratified in two time intervals less than or equal to 30 or >30 days of work. Follow up was continued until quitting or end of the observation period, by recollecting data regarding health, social and occupational variables from different lo gs and reports provided by the employer. Reasons for quitting and accuracy of data obtained from logs and reports were evaluated through a follow up i nterview applied to 46% (n = 148) of the women who had quit, and were locat ed approximately 12 months after ceasing to work (SD 6.7). Results. The est imated cumulative probabilities of quitting were 67% during the first year and 81% during the second. Newcomers to the work force, a day shift and the company is nationality were predic ors the of quitting within 30 days. Smo king, surgical antecedents and paid leave due to illness were predictors fo r quitting after 30 days. In contrast, quitting rate after 30 days was lowe r in women with a history of chronic disease. Conclusions. Quitting work is high and selective among workers female electronic factories. While occupa tional factors are associated with workers quitting early, health factors a re stronger predictors for quitting after 30 days.